USB Tuner recommendations for RPi

LybsterKodi · September 15, 2021 at 4:14 PM

Currently I have 2 RP3s. Both running LibreElec & Kodi. One is just for viewing films stored on a 6TB USB drive and the other has TVHeadend and a TVHat. The pair ran really well until I installed a laptop cooling fan which needed me to move the RPis. Ultimately I trace the trouble I was having with recording on the sensitivity of the connection to the TVHat PCB - the smallest nudge can cause signal loss which requires much messing before recording again works.

I've found this (DVB-T2 USB Devices - LinuxTVWiki) but its 6 years old and I know the Hauppauge line will work with RPi just wondering if there are any others that people would recommend.

**chewitt** · September 15, 2021 at 4:47 PM Official Post

Things that run over the network are generally a good idea as it means you can run whatever you want as a client device with (if needed) a different known-good combination of OS + drivers + firmware on the back end. Hauppague are good. HDHomeRun devices also seem to get good press.

LybsterKodi · September 16, 2021 at 2:41 PM

I'm planning on having a Pi dedicated as a "TV server". Is there a list anywhere showing which devices are supported by LibreElec/KODI/TVHeadend? I'm not keen on spending £60 on a Hauppage and finding there isn't a driver.

**chewitt** · September 16, 2021 at 4:15 PM Official Post

In short, there is no list, because it would be a full-time job to maintain and we're all unpaid volunteers. The upstream kernel sources are the best thing to check. If you find Hauppague (or other) drivers there the hardware is much easier for us to support.

ten17eighty1 · September 17, 2021 at 3:52 AM Best Answer

Can't speak to LE 10 on the RP3's but on the RP4 I was able to get the hauppauge WinTV DualHD Dual USB 2.0 working fine out of the box with the tvheadend server. Their WinTV DualHD QUAD USB doesn't work yet though, and I saw in another thread it has to do with the Pi not using the current kernel (I think). That said, the Quad can work with ubuntu, so I set the quadhd up on an ubuntu server and am running Tvheadend on that for now (i bought both but ultimately retuned the Dual because we have 3 Tvs).

**CvH** · September 17, 2021 at 11:13 AM Official Post

Hauppauge is the way to go, they have proper kernel support or the Raspberry Pi TV HAT that supports DVB-T2 too.

LybsterKodi · September 17, 2021 at 4:14 PM

chewitt

I appreciate that people here are volunteers but whilst I have umpteen years Windows experience I have virtually zero Linux knowledge and I would prefer not to have to learn yet another programming language just to find which bits of hardware are currently supported. On the other hand its possible I may be misunderstanding your recommendation.

ten17eighty1

Thanks, that give me some useful information. I've had a look on Amazon and my wallet is cringing <G> I also tried contacting Haupagge and was told to ask elsewhere.

CvH

Thanks. I already have a TV Hat and I want to replace it since the antenna connection is very sensitive to minor disturbance.

Mario77 · September 17, 2021 at 8:44 PM

Quote from LybsterKodi

antenna connection is very sensitive to minor disturbance

Did you try to change and replace your connections?Don't have any sensitivity issues with my tv-hat

ten17eighty1 · September 18, 2021 at 2:25 AM

I should clarify what I said about the kernel -- from the other thread it appeared that Libreelec 10 specifically on the Pi didn't yet have the kernel that supported the QuadHD, but does support the DualHD. Ubuntu does support the Quad, although I can't speak for raspbian.

Also the thing with the price is you have to remember you'll probably never need to buy one again, so there's that.

GDPR-7 · September 18, 2021 at 2:42 AM

Quote from LybsterKodi

... I would prefer not to have to learn yet another programming language just to find which bits of hardware are currently supported...

why that ?

throwing the correct Firmware on the device is mostly all you need to do and mainly reading before buying.

in your first post you mentioned LinuxTVWiki and there the device list

just check the column "Supported" and esp. "in kernel"

- feed google with the "Vendor Device / Model" and the add "+linux" to the search

- and feed google with the device components (column "Hardware") and add "+linux" to the search

be aware:

your are more on the safer side if you buy elder hardware, at least not the newest (keyword: kernel support, maybe is planed, but could last ...month...) and not from exotic vendor.

as said: hauppauge has a good name, but also a price. bought a sat device ~7 years ago, driver/software (windows though, but...) are still available from hauppauge.

vendor's change the device internals and let the name and description the same (only findable with device ID or in Wiki "ID on interface" (PCI, USB) when the device is in your box)

so all finding with google maybe outdated

double check and make sure you are able to give the device back to the seller and of course get the money back (not only a credit item)

it's not rocket sci*ence

LybsterKodi · September 18, 2021 at 8:09 AM

Thanks for the responses

Mario77

I tried changing all the bits I had spares for, the connector between the TVHat and the antenna's coax isn't one of those. I've ended up blaming it because I've eliminated (I think) the other options. Things work fine as long as the Pi isn't disturbed so I may source another connector if I don't go down the RPi4 route. If I go that way I'll probably go for a Hauppage dual tuner.

JoeAverage

"why that ?" - because it was suggested I start reading the source headers

"your are more on the safer side if you buy elder hardware" - that is a very good point, and one I hadn't really thought about.

ten17eighty1

"Also the thing with the price is you have to remember you'll probably never need to buy one again, so there's that. " - you obviously didn't realise I'm a Yorkshireman living in Scotland so I have a double helping of hating to spend money.

Good point though.

GDPR-7 · September 18, 2021 at 8:03 PM

Quote from LybsterKodi

...
JoeAverage
"why that ?" - because it was suggested I start reading the source headers
...

I guess the advise was given to e.g. recheck the "ID on Interface" (see in LinuxTVWiki) usually also named USB-ID or PCI-ID (for non-usb-devices).

in short: if the specific ID is not in the kernel-driver-file (yet) : NO support for that specific device !

for example see:

TerraTec Cinergy S2 - LinuxTVWiki

=> under "Update" (written by me)

I tried to declare that stuff in my prev. comment

=> "vendor's change the device internals ..."

LybsterKodi · September 19, 2021 at 6:32 AM

Just to round the thread off. Yesterday I ordered from PiHut

- RPi4B

- Argon One case

- Power supply

and

- Hauppauge WinTV-dual HD

from Amazon (they seem to have a monopoly.

USB Tuner recommendations for RPi

Similar Threads

ATMOS pass-through not working after upgrade from LibreELEC (official): 9.95.5 (RPi4.arm) to LibreELEC (official): 10.0.0 (RPi4.arm)

RPI 3 b+ Video stuttering

9.97.1 on new RPi4B won't see USB keyboard